Cambridgeshire is a bit like Oxfordshire in that, to many people, the university town is the county. The university, which was established over 800 years ago, is the second oldest in the country after Oxford and the seventh oldest in the world. A tradition established in 1918 is for a festival of none lessons and carols which takes place on Christmas Eve in King's College chapel.
The county has grown in size from the original having taken in the old county of Huntingdonshire and what was the soke (an administrative county) of Peterborough. The cathedral at Ely is famous for its unusual octagonal tower. Ely is situated in the Fens, an area of partly-drained marshland that was home to Hereward the Wake who led resistance against William the Conqueror's invasion in the late 11th century. Ely was also home to another of England's famous leaders - Oliver Cromwell.
Near to Cambridge is the village of Grantchester, made famous by the poet Rupert Brooke. "Stands till the clock at ten to three? /And is there honey still for tea?"
When it comes to selecting a picture I am spoilt for choice. Should it be one of King's College chapel showing the Backs and the River Cam? Perhaps Wisbech, an attractive town with a host of Georgian architecture? Grantchester? Ely? I'll plump for a shot of the cathedral tower at Ely which I have borrowed from the web site ely.org.uk
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